Pho, Ramen, the noodle dishes... I'm sure you've heard of them. For the longest time I thought they were the same, and that the names were interchangeable. Both have been around forever, but despite the many restaurants serving it, I have never eaten anything other than the small packs for $0.30 in the grocery store.

Most people are shocked when a "foodie" hasn't eaten something most people love, so I went to Pho 79 in Ghent to try it out.

Is it just me or does the feeling of nostalgia hit you hard during the summer months? Since I'm no longer in school I don't have the pleasure of getting an extended summer break, so it is up to me to make the most of the warm weather and plan my own mini summer adventures.

As a child, every summer I would visit all of the local water and amusement parks. Now as an adult, my amusement park days have been limited, but I make it a goal to go once a year. I recently visit H2OBX Waterpark in Outer Banks for a day of fun with a friend.

Dear Doctors, Nurses and Medical Staff, while it may not be in the medical books, you need to normalize and make the conversations about healthy weight loss and normal weight gain positive. Conversations that you have with your patients should be open and without judgment. Grab a cup of tea and hear me out for a second.

Although temps were in the 100's, I trekked over to Wasserhund Brewing Company in Virginia Beach for the 1st (and hopefully annual) BBQ Wars competition put on by Southern Grit Magazine. 4 Chefs from Restaurants and Food Trucks around Hampton Roads came together and presented a plate of their best BBQ, while the general public voted for who they thought was the best.

Last year, in the midst of my 60 pound weight loss, I stumbled upon the COVA Best of Party. COVA = Coastal Virginia Magazine, and every year we vote on what business we consider to be the Best in their respective category (Insert Restaurant, Salon, Any Random Business Here). The Winners participate in the Best of Party, and although its not a food festival it can easily be considered one by the amount of food samples available.

Norfolk has always been fun, and as the hipster saying goes, I loved it before it was cool. Of all the events that are held in Norfolk (specifically Downtown), Harborfest and Bayou Boogaloo are my personal favorites. Although Harborfests' focus is on the tall ships, the inclusion of Nathans Hot Dog Eating contest, beer and wine tents, shopping, and of course the food vendors have made it into a weekend long festival that I always get excited to attend.

Every Friday for the next two months, the areas best food trucks will be out at MacArthur Center in Norfolk, serving up food, while people like me can eat, play games, listen to music, and roller skate (because who doesn't love a good 90's era activity?). I went out last Friday evening as a part of the Eat the Streets, Chew Crew.

As someone who eats out frequently and has lost over 50 pounds since June of last year, I am often asked what my secret is to staying fit and maintaining my weight loss. To the outside world, it appears that I have mastered the impossible. My secrets are fairly simple: